The High Court on Tuesday stayed further proceedings in a defamation case registered against Kannada cine actor and Congress State Secretary S Jaggesh, before the Turuvekere JMFC in Tumkur district.

Justice H V G Ramesh passed an interim order to this effect following a criminal petition by Jaggesh, challenging the validity of the defamation case.

JD(S) MLA Krishnappa had filed a private complaint in 2004 alleging that Jaggesh had made defamatory statements against him published in a newspaper .

Pursuant to this complaint, the Magistrate had registered a criminal case of defamation .

Jaggesh, who had lost Turuvekere assembly constituency to Mr Krishnappa in 2004 elections, has contended in his petition that Krishnappa had filed a false complaint due to political differences. 

The petition also contended that Turuvekere Magistrate has no jurisdiction to entertain the case.